Louis c



Oct. 25, 1932. 1 c, KRATZ 1,853,955

PAPER WEIGHT Filed May 4, 1952 Zu f W lat Patented Oct 25, 1932 LOUIS c. xnA'rz, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK PAPER- WEIGHT Application filed May 4,

This invention relates to paperweights, and the particular embodiment herein described and claimed relates to paperweights for use by magazine and newsdealers and oth- ('5: ers engaged in similar occupations wherein magazines, newspapers and the like are displayed in stacks piled upon racks or stands which are customarily placed in the open air in front of the establishments and exposed to no; the elements.

A constant source of annoyance to those engaged in this business is that caused by the wind exerting its force upon the magazines, newspapers or the like, so displayed,causing 515 much mutilation and damage with consequent loss to the dealer. Various means, often unsightly devices such as bottles, bricks, rocks, etc., have been used as weights to overcome A this difliculty.

The object of this invention is to provide a device of this character which will be compact, pleasing in appearance, and simple and eflicient in operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus in one unit which will, in operation, effectively protect a series of stacks of magazines, newspapers and the like.

Still a further object is to provide such an apparatus in one unit which may be used effectively upon a series of stacks of irregular height.

Another object of this invention is to provide a paperweight which will permit the withdrawal of a magazine or newspaper from a stack without the necessity of touching or moving said paperweight from its position.

Another object is to provide such an apparatus in which the followers resting upon the magazines, newspapers or the like are of varying lengths to accommodate magazines or newspapers of different sizes.

To this end, and for a more complete comprehension of this invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawing and specification in which the preferred embodiment of this invention is shown and described.

Figure 1 is a front elevation, showing the device in use upon a magazine or news stand,

Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a top plan view,

1932. Serial No. 609,249.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional detail.

The invention consists of a flexible cable 1, which may be of rope or other suitable material, to each end of which is secured a weight 2, 2a, in the form of a block, which may be of wood, heavy cardboard, etc., approximately of the general size and outline of any magazine. The cable is fastened to these blocks by means of conventional screw eyes such as at 3, or by any other suitable means.

Mounted upon this cable are a number of rotatable followers or weights 4, 4a, 4b, 4c, loosely spaced by suitable collars 5, 5a, 5b, 50

which are positively fixed to said cable by means of pins passing through said collars and cable.

In operation, the device is extended across a stack of magazines or papers with the followers e'ach resting upon an individual stack, 0 and the blocks or weights are suspended at opposite ends of the rack or stand. It will be apparent that the weight of these blocks will keep the cable stretched across the stand and will securely hold in position any papers resting thereunder.

Should the height of the stacks become uneven and irregular by reason of one particular magazine being in greater demand and therefore selling more consistently than that 6 of another stack, the cable, being flexible, will readily accommodate itself to any such irregularities in height as may occur and will continue to serve its purpose efficiently. The M invention may be used upon one stack as well as upon a series of stacks and as many followers may be used as are required to cover the extent of the news stand or rack. The followers, as shown in the drawing, are made in varying lengths to accommodate difierentsized magazines, and sufficient cable is left between the followers to permit them to become automatically adjusted to irregularities in height. The end weights are so balanced with respect to the weights of the followers that there will be no tendency to pull the cable and followers thereon into an unbroken line.

These end weights 2, 2a, are preferably M formed so as to imitate the general appearance of a magazine, the object being to secure to the faces thereof the covers of any magazine which it is desired to advertise.

In practice, it is intended that each individual roller shall also bear suitable advertising matter.

It will be understood that minor changes may be made in the construction of this device without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A paperweight for retaining stacks of magazines and the like in substantially stacked position comprising a length of flexible cable extended across said stacks, weights at each end thereof for maintaining it in an extended condition, and followers rotatably mounted upon said cable and adapted to rest upon said stacks.

2. A paperweight for retaining stacks of magazines and the i like in substantially stacked position comprising a length of flexible cable extended across said stacks, means for maintaining said cable in an extended bondition and means upon said cable, adapted to rest upon said stacks, to retain said magazines and the like in position.

3. A paperweight for retaining stacks of inagazines and the like in substantially stacked position comprising a length of flexible cable extended across said stacks, weights at each end thereof for maintaining it in an lextended condition, and spaced followers rotatably mounted upon said cable and-adapted to rest upon said stacks.

4. A paperweight for retaining stacks of magazines and the like in substantially stacked position, comprising a length of flexible cable extended across said stacks, weights at each end thereof for maintaining it in an extended condition, followers rotatably mounted upon said cable, and collars spacing said followers permanently fixed to said cable.

5. A paperweight for retaining stacks of magazines and the like of irregular height in substantially stacked position comprising a length of cable extending across said stacks of irregular height, said cable conforming to said irregularities, means for maintaining said cable in extended condition, and followers rotatably mounted upon said cable and adapted to rest upon said stacks.

6. A paperweight comprising a cable, means mounted upon said cable adapted to rest upon the object to be weighted down, and means secured to the cable for maintaining it in an extended condition.

7. The combination of claim 6, in which the cable is flexible.

8. 'A paperweight comprising a cable, followers mountedupon said cable adapted to rest upon the object to be weighted down; and means secured to said cable for maintaining it in an extended condition.

i,ss3,965

9. The combination of claim 8, in which the followers are rotatable.

10. A paperweight comprising a flexible cable, followers mounted upon said cable, adapted to rest upon the objects to be weighted down, and means secured to said cable for maintaining it in an extended condition.

11. The combination of claim 10, in which the followers are rotatable.

12. A paperweight comprising a cable, a follower mounted upon said cable adapted to rest upon the object to be weighted down, collars secured to said cable adjacent the ends of said follower, and means secured to said cable for maintaining it in an extended condition.

13. A paperweight comprising a flexible cable, spaced rotatable followers mounted upon said cable, adapted to rest upon the objects to be weighted down, collars secured to said cable adjacent the ends of said followers, and means secured to said cable for maintaining it in an extended condition.

14. A paperweight comprising a cable, followers mounted upon said cable, means for maintaining said followers in spaced relation, and means secured to said cable for maintaining it in an extended condition.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LOUIS C. KRATZ. 

